Summary:
- Akifeza, who lost to Rose Kabagyeni in the NRM primaries, was declared the winner by Kisoro District Returning Officer Daniel Nayebare on Thursday at 1:44 a.m. at the Rukiiko Hall in Kisoro District.
KISORO: The NRM-leaning independent candidate, Grace Ngabirano Akifeza, has been declared the Kisoro District Woman Member of Parliament following a hotly contested by-election.
Akifeza, who lost to Rose Kabagyeni in the NRM primaries, was declared the winner by Kisoro District Returning Officer Daniel Nayebare on Thursday at the Rukiiko Hall in Kisoro District. After her narrow loss in the NRM primaries, Akifeza alleged vote rigging and decided to contest as an independent candidate.
In the final results, Akifeza garnered a total of 50,459 votes, surpassing her closest rival, Kabagyeni who is also the Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture with 44,982 votes at 322 polling stations. Salim Sultana (NUP) received 903 votes, Aisha Cyimpaye (PPP) 157 votes, Juliet Musanase (FDC) 193 votes, and Mable Ingabire (UPC) 362 votes. Nayebare reported 97,056 valid votes cast, with 1,061 invalid votes, 249 spoiled votes, and 98,117 ballot papers counted overall.
While addressing stakeholders, Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi urged Hon. Akifeza to work toward healing divisions that arose during the election for the betterment of the Kisoro community. Justice Byabakama also instructed security forces to investigate allegations of ballot stuffing at the Busanani polling station, implicating Bufumbira North MP John Kamara Nizeyimana, to prevent future electoral malpractice.
CUE IN JUSTICE BYABAKAMA…….ON ELECTION…..ENG//
In her remarks to journalists, Hon. Akifeza expressed her amazement at her victory, crediting divine intervention for restoring what she said was her victory taken during the NRM primary elections.
CUE IN HON. AKIFEZA……..ON VICTORY……RR/ENG//
NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi commented that the victory remains within the NRM family, as opposition parties received only about two percent of the vote. He said the by-election allowed the NRM to assess the opposition’s momentum ahead of the 2026 general elections. Dr. Odoi also highlighted the impact of religious sectarianism in the primaries, calling on community and religious leaders to speak out against it.
CUE IN DR. ODOI…….ON SECTARIANISM……ENG//
Biography:
Grace Ngabirano Akifeza, 52, hails from Matinza Village in Nyakabande Sub-county, Kisoro District. She is a successful businesswoman based in Kampala with a strong educational background, including a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Nairobi University, a Master’s degree in Child Rights from Kurt Bosch University, and another Master’s degree in Gender Development Studies from Nairobi University.
Though this is her first venture into active politics, Ngabirano has held leadership roles within her community and church. She has also worked in human rights, serving as a senior rehabilitation officer in Uganda’s Ministry of Gender and later with Kenya’s National Human Rights Organization.
